Martson Farm Highland Cattle
Farmer
About
We have been raising purebred Scottish Highland cattle for over 30 years. We raise our 235 head of Highland cattle as they were developed in Scotland for hundreds of years - exclusively grass fed and grass finished. We bought the Bagby Homestead south of Molalla in 1974. Recently we also bought the Dickey Homestead which is just east of Molalla for a combined ownership of over 200 acres. We also rent 100 acres in the Molalla vicinity.
Programs and Partners
Production Practices
Pastured
We raise our Highland Cattle as they have been for for centuries in Scotland. They eat only grass, brush, hay and haylage - no grain - not ever. Because Highland cattle are browsers, they help clear our land and improve the pastures. We believe that calm, contented animals produce better tasting meat, so keeping things quiet and calm is a big part of our daily farming practices. When we have to move or gather cattle we do so on horseback, taking our time , and trying hard not to upset any of the cattle. When we take animals to the USDA inspected processing plant we use (only 13 miles away) we gather and sort 3 days in advance then let the selected animals chill out in a corral with lots of hay and water.
Location
Molalla, OR
Manager
Rick Martson moved to Oregon from Michigan in 1972. Before retiring in 2016 Rick was a trial lawyer at Tonkon Torp LLP. Sue Martson was born and raised in Hood River. She spent many years in charge of the TV and radio advertising for Meier & Frank and then the May Company. She is a proud U of Oregon grad and the grandmother of 3 year old twins. Nicole West is Martson Farm's full time farm hand. She is a native Oregonian who spent many years on a cattle ranch in Montana and graduated from Montana State University.
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